Notes and Editorial Reviews

Thierry Lancino’s vast Requiem is a challenging and eloquent contemplation on human mortality which the composer describes as "both an epic fresco and sacred ceremony." In a paradox which brings the Christian into dialogue with the Pagan, Lancino presents an exploration of Death and Time which is both human and relevant, as well as posing eternal and unanswerable questions. This recording captures a unique and moving event, performed by a stellar cast of artists and France’s leading choir and orchestra.

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Thierry Lancino's audacious work keeps in the tradition of the Requiem but is by no means traditional, reconceiving the form as a sacred oratorio, or in the words of the composer, "an epicRead more fresco." Inspired by the liturgical text "Dies irae... teste David cum Sibylla" ("Day of wrath... as announced by David and the Sibyl"), Lancino's Requiem unfolds as a dialogue between the pagan Sibyl – from the Greek "Sibylla," meaning "prophetess" – and the biblical David. With the choir functioning as a Greek chorus of sorts, the four soloists are the oratorio's principal actors. David is sung by the tenor and the Sibyl by the mezzo-soprano. The soprano (Heidi Grant Murphy) is the mortal, suffering Everyman, and the bass represents the warrior side of David. Challenging but approachable, the musical landscape is wide and far-reaching, yet the work's lexicon steers clear of any dogmatic or academic approach. In collaboration with librettist Pascal Quignard (
Tous les matins du monde), Lancino's Requiem makes for a thoughtful meditation on Death and Time.